2000 Trees is up there with the very best of the UK’s independent festivals. It’s been growing steadily over the last few years, offering some of the best in alternative rock for a fraction of what the major festivals set you back.
This year, the festival delivers some of the widest variety of punk, ska and hardcore among its indie mainstays, and we’ve collated a “must see” list for the weekend. If you’re not already headed down to Cheltenham next weekend, you can pick up tickets from the 2000 Trees website.
Check out our tips for the weekend below.
Thursday
Comeback Kid (The Cave)
Winnipeg’s Punk/Hardcore kings Comeback Kid always have the potential to incite a pit, and their set at Trees will be no exception. They’re one of the longest standing bands on the lineup and are nailed in for delivering a brilliant sub-headline slot on The Cave.
Milk Teeth (The Cave)
Visceral grunge riffs and searing lyrics are Milk Teeth trademarks. They’ve made a real name for themselves in recent years with their new material, and are an essential watch for the early evening on Thursday.
Show Me The Body
Show Me The Body’s “Dog Whistle” LP is experimental punk at its finest, and one of this year’s weirdest and most wonderful releases. They’ve got plenty of energy behind them at the moment, and their set should be absolute chaos.
Petrol Girls
Fresh from the release of their new album “Cut & Stitch” and dates with La Dispute, Petrol Girls will be tearing up The Cave on Thursday afternoon. There’s little doubt that the tent will be rammed and they’ll be delivering the good.
WSTR
WSTR are one of UK Pop-Punk’s hottest bands at the moment, and their opening set on the main stage at this year’s 2000 Trees will be a brilliant way to kick off the weekend.
Flogging Molly
Flogging Molly will be perfectly suited to the leafy surroundings backing their main stage sub-headline slot. They’ll be rolling out the classics, and always deliver an amazing live show.
While She Sleeps
While She Sleeps have the unenviable task of following Comeback Kid (especially as they’ll need to do with a fill-in for vocalist Loz), but they’ll be more than capable of handling it. They’re one of the UK’s best heavy bands, and more than a worthy stage headliner at Trees.
Nervus
Nervus return to Trees with new material on the way, and some brilliant back catalogue to draw on in “Everything Dies” and “Permanent Rainbow”. It’ll be a special moment in The Cave and another of Thursday’s highlights.
Imperial Leisure
As far as festival bands go, you can’t do much better than Imperial Leisure. They’re no stranger to 2000 Trees, and will no doubt bring the party to the Thursday afternoon.
Brightr
Having recently released “Two Sides”, solo artist Brightr will be performing a Forest Session at 2000 Trees this year, and will be a great way to kick of the weekend.
Friday
Cancer Bats
An absolute treat whatever size stage they’re on, Cancer Bats will be tearing up The Cave with a headline performance on Friday night. There’s not many who are more entertaining live than Liam Cormier’s crew.
Get Cape Wear Cape Fly
Get Cape Wear Cape Fly at festivals is always excellent, and their Axiom stage performance will be the scene of some amazing singalongs on Friday. (There’s also a second chance to see Sam play solo in the forest later in the weekend).
Grace Petrie
Grace has been absolutely smashing it over the last few years, going from strength to strength on big tours as well as performing in larger and larger venues in her own right. She’s following up her recent Glastonbury performance with this Forest Session, and it’ll be a real one to watch for Friday evening.
Indoor Pets
Fresh from supporting Weezer (a very appropriate choice of support), Indoor Pets will go down an absolute treat. Their sets are always high energy and entertainment, and their headline set on Neu will be ace.
The Dangerous Summer
The Dangerous Summer have been relentless since their reformation – their self-titled album and this year’s “Mother Nature” are stunning – and the singalongs will be massive for this set.
Brutus
Brutus’ “Nest” is one of the albums of 2019, and their set at 2000 Trees will be a great opportunity for them to open a whole new raft of fans to absolute belters like “Fire” and “War”.
Gouge Away
Those at Trees into their bay area hardcore will absolutely love Gouge Away, and their mid afternoon set will serve as a great precursor for a hectic evening on The Cave.
Crazy Arm
Plymouth’s Crazy Arm are regulars at 2000 Trees – they’ve probably lost count of the amount of sets they’ve delivered (including a fairly racous full band show in the camp site last year), and will be more than up for the challenge as usual.
Seán McGowan
Along with some of the other bands booked in for the forest stage this year, Seán is a swiftly rising UK solo artist, and he follows up a great set last year with a return performance.
Oxygen Thief
Oxygen Thief are another 2000 Trees mainstay (front man Barry is often seen performing on the late night stages as well as on the official day time slots), and there’s plenty of new material for fans to soak up this year with a new record on the way.
Saturday
Every Time I Die
ETID are yet another legendary hardcore band on the line up at 2000 Trees this year, and their sub-headline slot on the Saturday night is sure to be absolute carnage.
The Skints
The Skints have more than earned their place near the top of the main stage. Fresh off of the release of new LP “Swimming Lessons”, there’s little doubt they’ll be absolutely amazing.
Single Mothers
Although it’s a little difficult getting your head around exactly who’s in Single Mother these days, there’s little doubt that the band have some absolute bangers. They play The Cave late Saturday afternoon.
Ducking Punches
As far as folk-infused UK punk goes, it doesn’t get much better than Ducking Punches. Deeply personal tunes in a stripped back setting on the forest stage will be an amazing moment.
Cold Years
People are starting to take notice of Cold Years, not least because they’ve been bringing an excellent live show to the UK DIY scene’s favourite haunts recently. It’s a great slot for them and one that anyone into punk rock should check them out.
Spielbergs
“Five On It” is one of the best punk tunes that have been put out this year, and Spielbergs have picked up plenty of new fans with their latest LP “This is Not the End” is general. Their live show is great, so they’re going to fit right in on Saturday.
The Armed
When they’re not winding up particular high-profile members of the scene, The Armed are putting out very, very good records. They close down Neu stage for the weekend and very fortunately (or deliberately) don’t clash with Every Time I Die.
The Bottom Line
The Bottom Line are another UK pop punk hopeful making big impressions recently, and they’ve been working their asses off to get to this point. They’re supporting the release of their recent full-length “No Vacation” and prop up The Armed as sub-headliners of the Neu stage.
Deaf Havana
Deaf Havana close down the festival as main stage headliners on Saturday with plenty to prove. They’re one of the UK alternative rock scene’s longest-standing survivors – sticking around where plenty of their mates have called it a day, and this will be a big moment for them following their sold out Brixton Academy headline show last year.
In summary – this year’s 2000 Trees is going to be amazing and this is just a small sample of the brilliant bands playing. Dying Scene will be there catching all of the above and more and reporting back over and after the weekend.
https://www.twothousandtreesfestival.co.uk/